Tag: Oni Press

With Further Ado #271: Odds, Ends, and a New to Me Review

With Further Ado #271: Odds, Ends, and a New to Me Review

After working at Reed Expo as a Senior VP of Marketing, I ended up consulting for the huge trade show organization and focusing on New York Comic Con. In those early days, as sort of one step over from the consulting, I would also be on the Javits exhibition floor promoting Captain Action, and I had outstanding company.

Back then we had an “incoming class” of exhibitors who were working hard to make their entrepreneurial dreams reality through the magic of the comic convention. It was an impressive group of folks. We were all full of optimism and unafraid to roll up our sleeves and work hard. I can’t help but fondly remember creative entrepreneurs like like Brenden Deneen and Richard Emms of Ardden Entertainment, Gary Schaeffer and his Outer Space Men, Vincent Ferranti ‘s Witch Hunter, and so many others.

Anthony Del Col and Conner McCreery were an integral part of that early scene with their Kill Shakespeare series. They were always upbeat and enthusiastic, tirelessly promoting that very creative series while they shared their natural energy and enthusiasm with all the other exhibitors. Two great guys, fighting the good fight, and inspiring everyone else to do the same. Continue reading “With Further Ado #271: Odds, Ends, and a New to Me Review”

CHEF’S KISS AGAIN: Eisner & GLAAD Award-Nominated Graphic Novel Sensation to Return

The Sequel Chef’s Kiss to Return in Brand-New Sequel by Jarrett Melendez & Irene Flores from Oni Press in 2025 

Press Release:

PORTLAND, OR (October 16, 2023) – As revealed this weekend at New York Comic Con, Oni Press—the multiple Eisner, Harvey, and Ringo Award-winning publisher of comics and graphic novels for all ages—is proud to announce CHEF’S KISS AGAIN, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2023 ALA Alex Award-winning original graphic novel by co-creators Jarrett Melendez & Danica Brine!

Teaming Melendez with incoming illustrator Irene Flores (R.L. Stine’s Just Beyond: Monstrosity, Heavy Vinyl), CHEF’S KISS AGAIN is scheduled for publication in 2025 and will pick up precisely where the first volume left off—with the romance between culinary wunderkind Ben Cook and his sous-chef-turned-new-flame, Liam, on the front burner and even more high-pressure adventures in fine dining awaiting with each evening seating! But when a culinary rival decides to kidnap their restaurant’s secret weapon—the taste-testing pig named Watson—the heat is going to rise…inside and outside the kitchen!

“I never could have predicted the overwhelmingly positive response to Chef’s Kiss,” said writer and co-creator Jarrett Melendez. “We set out to make something that our teen and 20-something selves would have been obsessed with, and I’m so happy it’s landed and resonated with people that are that age now. I can’t wait to share what’s next for Ben, Liam, Watson, and the rest of our beautiful, dorky cast!”

“Working with Jarrett and Danica on Chef’s Kiss has been a dream, and it’s been amazing to see the huge response for it over the past year,” said Oni Press Editor Grace Scheipeter. “With Irene Flores joining the team and lots of ideas cooking up, I can’t wait for everyone to get a taste of CHEF’S KISS AGAIN.”’

Continue reading “CHEF’S KISS AGAIN: Eisner & GLAAD Award-Nominated Graphic Novel Sensation to Return”

New Number Ones – New Comic Series Starting in June 2023

New Number Ones – New Comic Series Starting in June 2023

Welcome to the New Number Ones for June! If you are new here, in this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

We are getting this out a little later than we want, but there are plenty of great books to check out this week. Keep an eye out for the sister column to this one: New Number Ones: Specials and One-Shots where we highlight important releases that are not part of series. Some of the books on this list are in some ways related to books on that list.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, , Mad Cave Studios, Titan Comics, Oni Press, Ahoy Comics, Vault Comics, AWA Studios, and IDW Publishing.

One thing to remember, we continue to measure the “comic week” as Wednesday. #NCBD is Wednesday.

We will bring you reviews of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released. There are five Wednesdays in May 2023, so that means five weeks of new comics.

Week of 6/7/23
Week of 6/14/23
Week of 6/21/23
Week of 6/28/23


Week of June 7th  


Destiny, NY: Mystic Mafia #1
Black Mask Studios
Written by Pat Shand
Art by Elisa Romboli
Cover Art by Leirix Li

Lilith Aberdine is the last surviving daughter of a mystical crime family. She has spent her whole life running from her past, but now those old demons are finally catching up to her. She thought she was meant to be with former prophecy girl Logan McBride, but life has pulled them apart. Now, with Lilith in New York and Logan in California, will destiny reunite them or drive them further apart?

Release Date: June 7, 2023

PCS NOTES: This universe that Pat Shand has created is full of interesting characters, and this seems like a great jumping off point.


In Hell We Fight! #1
Image Comics
Written by John Layman
Art by Jok
Cover Art by Jok

Life in hell ain’t easy. Demons try to torture you for all eternity. Monsters want to eat you. There’s a stunning lack of reliable indoor plumbing. And it’s almost impossible to get ice cream. At least, until today, when three condemned teens and their annoying tagalong demon frenemy embark on a daring scheme to hijack a demon lord’s delivery truck. What happens next will take them on an epic journey across the underworld, an infernal excursion of nonstop excitement, danger, and adventure.

Presenting a devilishly fun new series from multiple Eisner-winning writer/letterer JOHN LAYMAN (CHEW, Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum) and Argentinian superstar artist JOK.

Release Date: June 7, 2023

PCS NOTES: John Layman is a brilliant writer, and whenever he has a new series, it immediately goes on the pull list. Continue reading “New Number Ones – New Comic Series Starting in June 2023”

New Number Ones – New Comic Series Starting in May 2023

New Number Ones – New Comic Series Starting in May 2023

Holy New Comics, Batman!!  If you are new here, in this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

There are a ton of new books this month. It feels like big two are jumping back into the fray this month after a couple of relatively slow new number one months for them. There are a couple of special things to look out for as well. Keep an eye out for the sister column to this one: New Number Ones: Specials and One-Shots where we highlight important releases that are not part of series. Some of the books on this list are in some ways related to books on that list.

Also this month has Free Comic Book Day, and we will have a special column later this week so that you can see what to expect when you go to your Local Comic Shop on May 6th.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, , Mad Cave Studios, Ablaze Publishing, Titan Comics, Oni Press, Red 5 Comics, and IDW Publishing.

One thing to remember, we continue to measure the “comic week” as Wednesday. As such, if we have a month like March that starts on a Wednesday, the comics released the day before count as week one. #NCBD is Wednesday.

We will bring you reviews of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released. There are five Wednesdays in May 2023, so that means five weeks of new comics.

Week of 5/3/23
Week of 5/10/23
Week of 5/17/23
Week of 5/24/23
Week of 5/31/23


Week of May 3rd  


Animal Castle, Vol. 2 #1
Ablaze Publishing
Written by Xavier Dorison
Art by Felix Delep
Cover Art by Delep

Animal Castle Vol. 2 picks up shortly after the events of Vol. 1 with Miss B trying to convince the animals not to give in to violence, in order to put an end to Silvio’s reign…

At the castle, the dictatorship continues. Thanks to the efforts of Miss B and her friends, the animals attempt to remobilize the pacifist movement of the Daisies. But Silvio the bull dictator is trying to keep them under his hoof to keep his power. Helped by his cruel canine militia, he decides to have the rebellious animals imprisoned in the dungeon. But Miss B and her friends will respond once again with trickery…and solidarity!

Release Date: May 3, 2023

PCS NOTES: We haven’t read the first volume of this book, but it looks intriguing. 


Cult of Carnage: Misery #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Sabir Pirzada
Art by Francesco Mortarino & Javier Tartaglia
Cover Art by Skan

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION RETURN HOME! Liz Allen is the mother of Normie Osborn, who she is blissfully unaware is the all-new and all-deadly RED GOBLIN! But what Liz DOES know is that the Red Goblin has been active and has been seen VERY close to her home. And after her late husband’s father, NORMAN OSBORN (maybe you’ve heard of him?), gets pulled into the chaos and violence swirling around Normie, Liz has no choice but to use the resources at her disposal as the head of ALCHEMAX to take matters into her own hands and become something the Marvel Universe has NEVER SEEN BEFORE!

Release Date: May 3, 2023

PCS NOTES: Who doesn’t love a little Carnage in their life?


Edge of The Spider-Verse #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Zander Cannon & Karla Pacheco
Art by Pere Perez, Guillermo Sanna, Rico Renzi, Antonio Fabela
Cover Art by Patrick Brown

ENTER: KRAVERTOOTH THE HUNTER / CURSE OF THE SPIDER-KILLER

INTO THE OTHER EDGE OF THE SPIDER-VERSE! SPIDER-REX returns and faces the VENOMSAURUS! PLUS—WHO IS THE SPIDER-KILLER?! Zander Cannon introduces the world to the scariest Spider-Character EVER CREATED!!! Bringing your favorite breakout characters back, as well as introducing brand new Spiders who will blow your mind!

Release Date: May 3, 2023

PCS NOTES: This just looks hella fun… Continue reading “New Number Ones – New Comic Series Starting in May 2023”

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for February 2023

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for February 2023

Welcome to our New Number Ones: One-Shots & Specials for February 2023 column.

In this regular column, we collect the one-shot books, special anthologies, and original graphic novels that are being released this month. You can check out our regular New Number Ones column for the month here.

There is an alphabetical list of these special books below by release date, and don’t forget to check for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about these comics.

A couple of notes for this list. First of all DC Comics is in the midst of an event that is not quite an event. The Lazarus Planet storyline that is re-setting some status quos across the DC Universe is in full swing, but it is being told through a series of one-shots. We noted them here, because it seems pretty important to the cohesive narrative of the DC continuity of the moment.

Also, be aware that this list is very top heavy with the first week, mostly by DC books. The DC books actually hit some stores on January 31st because of their “New on Tuesday” rule. We consider the month to start on the first Wednesday of the month, so they are included in this February list.

One more thing, February is a month with themes and holidays. As such, you will find some anthologies on this page in honor of Black History Month, and there are some Valentine’s Day specials as well.

There are books on the list from: DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, Vault Comics, Top Shelf Productions, Little Bee Books, and Oni Press.


Batman: Legends of Gotham #1
DC Comics
Written by Andy Diggle
Art by Karl Mostert & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico

ONE-SHOT SPECIAL

With Batman preoccupied, his deepest, darkest, most dangerous secrets are about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The guest list is strictly villains only, and the outlaw Red Hood fits the bill–putting him on a collision course with Batman’s deniable black-ops team, the Outsiders! With Lazarus Island spawning wild-card superpowers across the globe, the stakes could not be higher. Jason Todd, Black Lightning, and Katana will have to put aside their differences to save Batman’s legacy–and with it, the world. That’s assuming they don’t kill each other first!

Release Date: January 31, 2023


DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1
DC Comics
Written by Ivan Cohen, Amanda Diebert, Greg Lockard, Jessica Berbey, Alexis Quasarano, Frank Allen, Zipporah Smith, Raphael Draccon, Carolina Munho`z
Art by Ig Guara, Adriana Melo, John McCrea, Fico Ossio, Will Robson, Max Sarin, Priscilla Petraites, Gulio Macaione
Cover Art by Amanda Conner

ONE-SHOT SPECIAL

STRANGER THAN FAN FICTION / HERE’S TO JACK, HERE’S TO MOLLY / POWER GIRL AND ALL-AMERICAN BOY / GRACE / DATING APP DISASTER / ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE / ONCE UPON A ROMANCE NOVEL / SPLENDOR IN THE FOAM

DC is proud to present a selection of eight stories of rapscallion romance, prodigious passion, and undulating, unbridled affection. Tension builds as Apollo and Midnighter are captured by an unknown alien species who are determined to learn the secrets of their supersoldier success. Harley Quinn gets caught in a scintillating fantasy.

Release Date: January 31, 2023 Continue reading “New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for February 2023”

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for January 2023

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for January 2023

This is the first column of the year for our fan-favorite New Number Ones: One-Shots & Specials column.

In this regular column, we collect the one-shot books, special anthologies, and original graphic novels that are being released this month. You can check out our regular New Number Ones column for the month here.

There is an alphabetical list of these special books below by release date, and don’t forget to check for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about these comics.

There are books on the list from: First Second Books, DC Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, and Oni Press.


Now Let Me Fly: A Portrait of Eugene Bullard HC
First Second Books
Written by Ronald Wimberly
Art by Brahm Revel
Cover Art by Revel

ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL

From author Ronald Wimberly, creator of the viral comic Lighten Up, comes a soaring graphic biography that casts new light on the first African-American fighter pilot.

On the eve of World War I, Eugene Bullard was a refugee of the Jim Crow South who was determined to find a place where a Black man would be treated as a fellow human being. His search took him from rural Georgia to the streets of Paris, from the vaudeville stage to the boxing ring, and finally, from the muddy trenches to the open skies. In 1914, Bullard joined the fight to defend France—and made history as the world’s first African American fighter pilot.

In this candid but sensitive portrait of Bullard, author Ronald Wimberly balances the personal and the historical to interrogate concepts of cynicism, idealism, fear, glory, and the pervasiveness of anti-Black racism.

Release Date: January 3. 2023

PCS NOTES: This is the kind of important content that needs to be seen in the comic form. Continue reading “New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for January 2023”

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in January 2023

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in January 2023

Welcome to 2023! There are new comics coming. If you are new here, in this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, AWA Studios, Oni Press, and Ablaze Comics.

This month has a mixed bag of new books. Some are restarts to existing properties and some are brand new debuts.

We will bring you reviews of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released.

Week of 1/4/23
Week of 1/11/23
Week of 1/18/23
Week of 1/25/23


Week of January 4  


Children of the Black Sun #1
Ablaze Comics
Written by Dario Sicchio
Art by Letizia Cadonici
Cover Art by Cadonici

From the artist of the hit series The House of Slaughter!

“It is not difficult to be happy under a blue sky. But it takes a lot of courage to be strong even under a black sun.”

Over the years, a black sun has risen twice. A dark dawn whose rays have done terrible things to people’s minds, driving them to all sorts of horror. Twelve years have passed since the last time and the world still fears the return of that inexplicable phenomenon. But fear is not the only legacy of those terrible days. All the women who got pregnant under the influence of the black sun have given birth to babies with some… peculiarities. White hair, ashy skin, abnormal proportions, and eyes as red as fire: the Children of the Black Sun.

Brightvale is a small town like many others. Here the Children of the Black Sun are treated with particular contempt, especially in the days leading up to the anniversary of the two disasters. The hatred of their fellow villagers, terrified of a possible return of that horror, will push these kids to unite and embark on a hallucinatory journey to discover themselves and their true nature. But is the black sun really about to return?

Release Date: January 4, 2023

PCS NOTES: I have to say, I am intrigued by the premise of this book.


Joe Fixit #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Peter David
Art by Yildiray Çinar, Dee Cunniffe, & Matt Milla
Cover Art by Cully Hamner & Jordie Bellaire

PETER DAVID RETURNS TO JOE FIXIT! Peter David’s tour de force through some of his greatest Hulk hits continues with a return to JOE FIXIT! Gone are the ripped-up shorts of the Hulk of yore—this enforcer prefers the slick suave of a striped suit, and the Hulk has traded in “monster” for “mobster” as he lends his strength to the Las Vegas casino scene. Of course, the Kingpin has his own ideas about who the toughest guy in town is, and it’s up to Spider-Man to keep the two of them from destroying Sin City!

Release Date: January 4, 2023

PCS NOTES: Peter David writing the Hulk is always entertaining and this return to the “Mobster era” looks like fun.   Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in January 2023”

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in September 2022

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in September 2022

As the calendar turns to September and summer starts to fade, hopefully, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Ablaze Comics, AWA/Upshot Studios, Valiant Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Ahoy Comics, and Scout Comics. We also have two smaller publishers in Opus Comics and Comics Experience Publishing.

There are some interesting titles this month that are revivals of older series that haven’t been around for a while. We are interested in checking those out.

We will bring you reviews of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released.

Week of 9/7/22
Week of 9/14/22
Week of 9/21/22
Week of 9/28/22


Week of September 7


Alien #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art by Julius Ohta & Yen Nitro
Cover Art by Björn Barends

PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON AND JULIUS OHTA LAUNCH A NEW ALIEN EPIC! MAN, MACHINE, AND THE MOST TERRIFYING CREATURE IN THE UNIVERSE…IT’S AN EXPRESS ELEVATOR TO HELL, AND YOU’RE GONNA WANT TO BE ON IT! A small colony of synths have settled in secret on a backwater moon. When a company of United System soldiers come to them for help retrieving biotechnology on a hostile planet that could be the key to saving humanity, the synths must decide whether the prospect of peace between man and machine is worth the risk of betrayal.

Release Date: September 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: We are interested to see where this arc goes. Phillip Kennedy Johnson has been doing excellent things on this series. You can check out our recent interview for more about his work on Alien. 


All-Out Avengers #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Derek Landy
Art by Greg Land, Jay Leisten, & Frank D’Armata
Cover Art by Land & D’Armata

INTRODUCING: THE ALL-NEW AVENGERS SERIES THAT STARTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPLOSIVE ACTION AND RACES TO A SHOCKING CLIMAX! An alien attack. A missing piece of wormhole tech. A city warped, its citizens transformed into hideous creatures loyal to an Empress from the far side of the universe. And a certain Captain Marvel, looking to her fellow Avengers with murderous intent… Plunge into the action and take a deep breath because you will not be allowed up for air as a thrilling new series kicks off in the strongest, strangest way possible.

Release Date: September 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: Well, if superhero action is what you want, this is the place for it.

 


Antioch #1
Image Comics
Written by Patrick Kindlon
Art by Marco Ferrari
Cover Art by Ferrari

FRONTIERSMAN creators KINDLON & FERRARI pick up where that series left off with an all-new ONGOING SERIES!

A king from a lost continent enters the world of man with a purpose: to stop us from killing the planet. But when he finds himself in a superhuman prison, his title is useless and his powers only matter if they help him survive!

Release Date: September 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: We are interested in this based on the concept and the trust we have in the creative team. Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in September 2022”

Preview Reviews for the Week of 4/27/22: Blood Stained Teeth #1, RetroActive, and Season of the Bruja #2

Preview Reviews for the Week of 4/27/22: Blood Stained Teeth #1, RetroActive, and Season of the Bruja #2

Welcome to the latest installment of Preview Reviews.

This week we have three books to review for you. The first is Blood Stained Teeth #1 from Image Comics. The next is RetroActive, an original graphic novel from Humanoids, Inc., and the last is Season of the Bruja #2 from Oni Press.

You can find these books at your LCS or wherever you buy books on April 27, 2022.


Blood Stained Teeth #1
Image Comics
Written by Christian Ward
Art by Patric Reynolds
Colors by Heather Moore
Letters by Hassan Ostmane-Elhaou
Cover Art by Ward

Original Solicitation:

CHRISTIAN WARD, the Eisner Award-winning co-creator of ODY-C, Invisible Kingdom, and Machine Gun Wizards, returns to Image with red-hot artist PATRIC REYNOLDS for an all-new ONGOING SERIES—a fast-paced 100 Bullets-style crime saga with fangs!

Atticus Sloane—misanthrope, criminal, asshole, and vampire—lives in a world where blood isn’t the only thing vamps crave. And for the right price, he’ll make you a vampire too. After all, immortality isn’t cheap.

PCS Review:

This is probably the new series debut with the most buzz this month. Everyone who has seen an early copy of it has high praise, and we are among that group of everyone. This vampire story has a very “crime noir” feel to it. The premise for the conflict is interesting, and the set-up builds like a walk through a dark fun house with more dread around every corner. This book is surprisingly compelling because there is really not a likeable character in the book, but we are hooked nonetheless.

The art team of Patric Reynolds and Heather Moore crafted a stunning visual display in this book. It is really difficult to find the words to describe the beautiful images that grace every page of the comic. Reynolds choice of close up and panned out shots for each panel depending on the flow of the story is brilliant. Heather Moore’s color work in this comic is inspired. From garish reds to radioactive yellows, every stroke is gorgeous. As usual Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering work is invaluable to the flow and cohesion of this story.

This book has exceeded expectations, and they were high going in. Everyone involved should be proud of what they have created, despite the nightmares that it will fuel.


RetroActive
Humanoids, Inc.
Written by Ibrahim Moustafa
Art by Moustafa
Colors by Brad Simpson
Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Art by Moustafa

Original Solicitation:

Temporal agent Tarik Abdelnasser is trapped in a time loop, living and dying over and over again.

The discovery of time travel is unknown to the general public, but a new Cold War rages between global intelligence agencies as they attempt to alter historical events in favor of their respective futures. When new intel points the U.S. Bureau of Temporal Affairs (BTA) toward a hostile anomaly in the past, veteran field agent Tarik Abdelnasser and his new partner, Lucia Olmos, are dispatched to investigate. They discover a radical adversary wielding a new technology that could unravel everything the BTA fights to maintain. Continue reading “Preview Reviews for the Week of 4/27/22: Blood Stained Teeth #1, RetroActive, and Season of the Bruja #2”

Preview Reviews for the Week of March 3, 2022: Chef’s Kiss, Loaded Bible, and Rogue Sun

Preview Reviews for the Week of March 3, 2022: Chef’s Kiss, Loaded Bible, and Rogue Sun

Welcome to the latest installment of Preview Reviews.

This week we have three books to review for you. The first is an Original Graphic Novel, Chef’s Kiss from Oni Press. The next two are both from Image Comics and they are: Loaded Bible: Blood of My Blood #1 and Rogue Sun #1.

All three of these books are featured on our New Number Ones for March. Check out the rest of that list to see what is coming this month.

You can find these books at your LCS on March 2, 2022.


Chef’s Kiss
Oni Press
Written by Jarett Melendez
Art by Danica Brine
Colors by Hank Jones
Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Art by Kevin Wada

Original Solicitation:

Watch things start to really heat up in the kitchen in this sweet, queer, new adult graphic novel!

Now that college is over, English graduate Ben Cook is on the job hunt looking for something…anything…related to his passion for reading and writing. But interview after interview, hiring committee after hiring committee, Ben soon learns getting the dream job won’t be as easy as he thought. Proofreading? Journalism? Copywriting? Not enough experience. It turns out he doesn’t even have enough experience to be a garbage collector! But when Ben stumbles upon a “Now Hiring—No Experience Necessary” sign outside a restaurant, he jumps at the chance to land his first job. Plus, he can keep looking for a writing job in the meantime. He’s actually not so bad in the kitchen, but he will have to pass a series of cooking tests to prove he’s got the culinary skills to stay on full-time. But it’s only temporary…right?

When Ben begins developing a crush on Liam, one of the other super dreamy chefs at the restaurant, and when he starts ditching his old college friends and his old writing job plans, his career path starts to become much less clear.

PCS Review:

I absolutely love this book. I have been waiting a long time for this day to come. This is one of the best OGNs that I have ever read. The art is spectacular. The writing is witty and endearing. It is a triumph from start to finish.

The character development in the book is very good and critical to the success of the story. As I was reading this book, I knew that I loved it, but near the end there is an emotional crisis in the story that I was not prepared for. It shook me, and I am better for it.

Danica Brine just absolutely kills it on the art in this book. She, sublimely, leads you through very ordinary life events but before you know it you are engrossed and drawn further into the characters’ world. Hank Jones’s colors could not be better chosen or executed to fit the tone of this story.

Hassan Ostmane-Elhaou is a virtuoso letterer. As if this book couldn’t get any better, his lettering ties all the aspects of book together seamlessly.

I applaud Jarrett Melendez for the passion and effort that he put into this story as well as all of the creative team. Do not miss this book.


Loaded Bible: Blood of My Blood  #1
Image Comics
Written by Steve Orlando & Tim Seeley
Art by Giuseppe Carafo
Colors by Josh Rodriguez
Letters by Fabio Amelia & Maurizio Clausi
Cover Art by Mirka Andolfo & Arif Prianto

Original Solicitation:

Decades after the events of the original cult series, Jesus’ vampire-hunting clone is a bigger outlaw than ever, and now, he has to face a threat like no other. The church has cut a deal with the vampire nations to unite under their cloned savior – Dracula. A 6-part monthly miniseries starting on Ash Wednesday!

PCS Review:

I went into this book not knowing what to expect regarding the plot. I did expect some chaos considering that it is written by Tim Seeley and Steve Orlando. I was not disappointed in that regard. Despite not being familiar with the previous work with this character, this debut issue was captivating and easy to grasp. The story that is unfolding is intriguing and will have us looking forward to the rest of the series.

The art and lettering in this book are excellently done and balance chaotic gore and clear storytelling in an effective manner. We are definitely all in on this six-issue run.


Rogue Sun #1
Image Comics
Written by Ryan Parrott
Art by Abel
Colors by Chris O’Halloran
Letters by Becca Carey
Cover Art by Declan Shalvey & O’Halloran

Original Solicitation:

Yesterday: New Orleans’ greatest hero, ROGUE SUN, was murdered.

Today: rebellious teenager DYLAN SIEGEL discovers that Rogue Sun was his estranged father, Marcus — and that he’s inherited his father’s mantle. Tasked with protecting our world from the forces of the supernatural — and solving his father’s murder — Dylan will be forced to come to terms with the man he’s spent the majority of his life hating.

From acclaimed writer RYAN PARROTT and rising star artist ABEL comes A SUPERNATURAL MURDER MYSTERY that explores the complicated bond between father and son and cements itself squarely in a corner of the IMAGE COMICS’ SUPERHERO UNIVERSE!

PCS Review:

Ryan Parrott definitely has something here. The start of the new Rogue Sun character comes off with tons of potential. The characterization in this book is well done. The pacing and plot points are excellently crafted. We are intrigued.

The art by Abel is very good. The action sequences and facial acting in particular are noteworthy. Chris O’Halloran’s color work is fantastic. The slightly textured feel adds a gritty feel and the lighting is excellent. Becca Carey’s letters are really well done.

Overall this is a solid debut issue and we are looking forward to more with this character.